Price match policies are guarantees from retailers that they will match or beat a competitor's price for the same item. It is worth researching to ensure you're getting the best possible deal and can take advantage of discounts offered by other stores. However, it’s important to review the terms, as some policies may have restrictions or conditions that limit their savings potential.
Here’s our ultimate list of Canadian retailers that offer price matching, so you know the price you paid is always the lowest.
Key Takeaways
- Stores offer price matching so you can get the lowest price on an item without having to shop elsewhere.
- Costco doesn't price match with competitors, but it does have offer price protection within its own stores.
- No Frills matches competitor pricing within 7 days of your purchase.
- Best Buy offers price matching for up to 30 days on eligible products.
Price matching at grocery stores, drug stores, and more
Here are a few of these policies from some of Canada's favourite retailers:
1. Costco price match policy
- Summary: Costco will refund the difference on an item if the price drops at Costco. Costco doesn’t price match to other stores.
- Link: Price Adjustment
Though Costco doesn't offer price matching with competitor retailers, they do offer a price protection policy on their own stores. If you buy something and its price lowers within 30 days of purchase, you can be refunded the difference.
2. FreshCo price match policy
- Summary: Within 14 days of purchase, they'll sell you the item for 1¢ less than the competitor's price.
- Link: Legal Disclaimer - Lowest Price Guarantee
All you have to do to get a price match at FreshCo is bring a current flyer or ad as proof of their lower price, and FreshCo will beat it by one whole cent.
Though it usually has to be an identical product, their policy states it can apply to "comparable items" too. This is likely relevant for any private labels that only the competitor store carries.
3. Giant Tiger price match policy
- Summary: They'll beat a competitor's price by 1¢.
- Link: Ad Match Guarantee
Giant Tiger will beat a local competitor's price by 1¢, providing they have the same product in stock. It doesn't apply to clearance items, private label products, and a few other exclusions.
There's no mention of a time limit for refunds, so it's likely this policy only applies to future purchases and not retroactively. That being said, they also have no time limit on returns and exchanges – so going that route will likely net you the same result.
4. No Frills price match policy
- Summary: Within 7 days, they'll match the competitor's price.
- Link: Price Match
No Frills offers the standard price match system, but only within 7 days of your original purchase. The price matching must also be current and for the exact same item – same brand, type, size, and measurement.
The biggest thing to note is they have a 4-item limit for their price matches.
5. London Drugs price match policy
- Summary: Within 30 days of purchase, they’ll match the lower price of another retailer.
- Link: Price Match Guarantee
If you find the same item for a lower price elsewhere, London Drugs will match the price. They'll also refund the difference for up to 30 days after the purchase was made.
However, you're limited to one per customer, per item, per day. Also note that this policy excludes prescriptions, photos, gift cards, tobacco, and insurance.
6. Real Canadian Superstore price match policy
- Summary: Price matching available with specific competitors.
- Link: Ad Match
Similar to No Frills, the Real Canadian Superstore policy states that price matches are available for identical products sold for lower prices by competing stores. Individual stores have lists of approved competitors for this policy.
Shoppers are limited to 4 units of the item being price matched, but there's no mention of any time frame restrictions.
7. Maxi price match policy
- Summary: Price matching available with competitors in Quebec.
- Link: Many ways to save
Maxi stores will match the prices of exact items from competing stores within the province of Quebec. You can find lists of approved competitors at individual Maxi stores.
You'll need to show proof of the lower advertised price, and you'll likely be limited to 4 units of the product in question.
Price match policies at electronics stores
If you're planning to buy a big-ticket item at an electronics store, you'll definitely want to check the store's price match policy. Tech gadgets can cost a pretty penny, so why not try to shave a few bucks off the ol' price tag?
Here are the policies from a few electronics retailers for you to examine:
8. Best Buy price match policy
- Summary: Best Buy price matches within 30 days of purchase.
- Link: Low Price Guarantee
If you find a lower price elsewhere, whether it's online, in-store, or in print, Best Buy will match the price up to 30 days after your purchase. This also applies when Best Buy has sales or lowers the price of certain items.
There are a couple of standard restrictions that apply, like the item must be the exact same brand name and model number, plus the competitor must be an authorized dealer in Canada.
There are step-by-step instructions on the Best Buy website, plus specifics on how it works for less cut-and-dry situations, like pre-orders.
9. Canada Computers price match policy
- Summary: Within 15 days of purchase, they'll refund or discount by 10% the difference.
- Link: Pricing
Canada Computers guarantees their price by promising to refund or discount the item by 10% of the difference. This applies to online, in-store, or flyer-based competitor prices and can be done on purchases made up to 15 days prior.
They also offer price protection, which means if they lower their own price within 15 days of your purchase, you'll be refunded the difference.
10. Newegg price match policy
- Summary: Within 14 days, they'll refund the difference in the form of in-store credit.
- Link: Price Match Guarantee
Newegg offers a pretty standard price match policy where they'll refund the difference within 14 days of purchase. There are a couple things to look out for though.
First, only products featuring a price match guarantee logo on their product page are eligible for the policy.
Second, the refund will be done via an in-store credit, so don't expect to get cash back. The credit also expires after 90 calendar days.
11. Staples price match policy
- Summary: They’ll match a Canadian retailer’s price, within 14 days of purchase.
- Link: Price Match Guarantee
Yes, we know that Staples isn't only an electronics store – but tech is a big part of their inventory. If you can find an identical in-stock item at a competitor’s store that has a lower price than Staples, they'll match the price.
But you must do this within 30 days of purchase – or 14 days for electronics.
For online purchases, the competitor must have next-day shipping available as well. Also, be aware that they may limit how many of the items you're able to buy, especially if the competitor has set a limit.
12. Memory Express price match policy
- Summary: Within 15 days of purchase, they’ll beat the price of another Canadian retailer by 10% of the difference
- Link: Uber Price Beat Guarantee
Price matches at Memory Express can be done both before or after your purchase – and it even applies to bundle deals. All you have to do is leave a comment on Step #3 of the purchase with a link to the competitor's website.
And for up to 15 days after you buy something, you'll not only get the difference refunded, but they'll beat it by 10% as well.
One last thing: they also offer price protection, meaning if the price of their own item goes down within 15 days after you bought it, they'll refund you the difference.
Price match policies at hardware stores
Doing some home renos and feel like you're paying too much? A price match might be the answer you've been looking for.
There are plenty of hardware stores with price policies, and here are our favourites:
13. Kent price match policy
- Summary: They'll match or beat the price by 10%.
- Link: Price Match Guarantee
Kent is one of Atlantic Canada's biggest providers of building and renovation supplies, and their price match policy is pretty sweet: as long as conditions are met, they'll match a competitor's regular price and beat a sale price by 10%.
The most important (and typical) conditions are that it must be an identical item that's in stock at the competitor's location and your chosen Kent store.
But there's no mention of a time limit, surprisingly.
14. Home Depot price match policy
- Summary: For the same item, they guarantee to beat the price of another store by 10%.
- Link: Price Guarantee
Home Depot has a valuable match policy where they'll beat the lower price by 10%. The competitor must be local, but you can also match to prices found on their website. Price matching with online-only stores is offered, but they won't beat the price in this case, just match it.
They have a detailed Price Guarantee page complete with FAQs and a how-to guide for additional information.
15. Home Hardware price match policy
- Summary: They’ll match another store’s lower price for the identical item.
- Link: Price Match Promise
The policy over at Home Hardware is pretty straightforward – if they have the item in stock, they'll match the competitor's advertised price.
However, note that they specifically state their right to exclude "significantly below cost competition loss leader pricing." So it's possible that if you find an item that's priced astonishingly low somewhere else, the folks at Home Hardware won't match it.
16. Rona price match policy
- Summary: They'll match the price of an identical product from a nearby competitor.
- Link: Price Match Hassle Free
If you're shopping at Rona, make sure to check around at retailers within a 25 km radius. They'll match their lower price as long as the competitor has the item currently in stock, it's the same item, is brand new, and is still in its original packaging.
Something special about their policy is they'll actually beat the price by 10% for major appliances.
Price match policies at furniture stores
Furniture shopping can be a pain, especially if you're determined to get the lowest price possible and are scouring flyers, visiting multiple stores, and testing out multiple products.
While it won't solve all your problems, a price match can make things quite a bit easier for you.
17. Leon’s price match policy
- Summary: Within 60 days, they'll refund the difference.
- Link: Leon's Integrity Pricing
If you find an identical, locally available item at an authorized Canadian dealer for a lower price, bring in the proof and Leon's will refund the difference. This offer is good for up to 30 days after your purchase.
There's a fairly long list of exceptions to consider, including as-is items, items purchased with points or rewards programs, and items from online-only competitors.
18. Kitchen Stuff Plus price match policy
- Summary: Bring proof of a current offer, and they'll beat it by 10%.
- Link: Price Match Policy
First of all, yes, we know that Kitchen Stuff Plus does more than furniture. The important thing is that they'll actually beat the lower price by 10%. There are a few brands for which you can only get a price match, not the 10% discount, and online purchases aren't eligible at all.
They also offer a price adjustment policy on their own prices. If you buy something and the price lowers within 14 days, they'll give you an in-store credit for the difference. Again, this doesn't apply to online purchases.
19. Sleep Country price match policy
- Summary: They'll beat a retailer's price on a similar item by 5%.
- Link: In-Store Unbeatable Price Guarantee
Sleep Country will beat competitor pricing by 5%. The downside is they only do it for in-store items, so if you prefer shopping online it won't be of much help to you.
But the upside is that this policy applies not only to identical products (which is the standard) but to similar products as well. As long as Sleep Country has a comparable model, they'll give you a 5% discount.
20. The Brick price match policy
- Summary: They'll match the price within 30 days, beat the price by 20% on appliances, and beat it by 10% for 90 days on mattresses.
- Link: Price Guarantee
The Brick has an unusual structure for their price match policy. The first applies to most items and it's your standard policy. They'll match the low price of a competitor within 30 days of delivery/pick up of your purchase.
But if the item you bought was an appliance, they'll also beat the price by 20% – better than most other retailers' policies. They'll beat mattress prices by 10% and increase the time to 90 days after delivery/pick up to make your claim.
Price match policies at sport stores and more
Need new hockey equipment for your kids? Going on a climbing excursion? Looking for a basketball net for the driveway? You should absolutely try to price match your purchases first.
These last few entries have some impressive price match offers that you should definitely take advantage of.
21. SportChek price match policy
- Summary: Within 15 days of purchase, they’ll match the other retailer’s price.
- Link: Pricing Policy
SportChek stores have a standard price match policy for any competitor pricing you find before making your purchase. This policy also extends to up to 15 days after you make your purchase.
The major details to note are that the policy doesn't apply to items from online-only competitors, nor is it applicable for SportCheck.ca online ordering.
22. MEC price match policy
- Summary: They’ll match the competing price, up to 30 days after purchase.
- Link: Price Matching
At MEC, shoppers can request a price match for identical products from competitors within 30 days of your initial purchase. While you can shop on MEC's website as a guest, only members are eligible to take advantage of the price match policy.
You'll need to provide the competitor's details and, if it's an online sale, a screenshot of the sale price. MEC will match the price, but it could take up to 4 weeks for your initial request to be completed.
23. Toys R Us price match policy
- Summary: They’ll match the competing price, before or up to 14 days after purchase.
- Link: Policy
In an unusual approach, Toys R Us does offer price matching but only with specific retailers. If your item is available from an approved retailer and you can show proof of the lower price, Toys R Us will honour the lower price.
You can take advantage of this policy for up to 14 days after purchasing an item from this toy store. This store will refund you the difference between the price you paid and the competitor's lower price.
FAQ
What is price matching?
A price match policy lets customers pay the lower price if they find the same item cheaper at another store, helping them save money. Most policies simply match the competitor's price, but some even beat it by a certain percentage.
What is price protection?
Price protection works similarly to price match except it's for the store's own prices. If you buy something and later find the same product now has a lower price, a store could refund the difference for you.
Does Walmart price match?
Unfortunately, Walmart no longer matches competitor prices. It does match in-store prices with those found on Walmart.ca, and the company has a fantastic return policy: full refunds offered on unopened items up to 30 days after purchase.
What is the Canadian Tire price match policy?
Canadian Tire doesn't offer price matching. It does have a generous return policy, though, allowing customers to return items with original packaging for a full refund for up to 90 days after purchase. A receipt is required.
What's the Amazon price match policy?
Amazon doesn't have a price match policy. On the customer service page for payments and pricing, Amazon states that it constantly compares prices with competitors to ensure its products are priced as low or lower than all "relevant" competitors.
What's the Loblaws price match policy?
Each Loblaws chain of stores (Atlantic Superstore, Metro, etc.) has its own policy. For instance, No Frills stores offer price matching for up to 7 days after purchase, for a maximum of 4 units of the product in question.
What's the Sobeys price match policy?
While Sobeys doesn't have a dedicated price match policy, it does have a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Therefore, you can return items for a full refund and then purchase them wherever you found a lower price.
What's the Safeway price match policy?
Safeway also has a 100% satisfaction guarantee, but no price match policy. Just like Sobeys, this gives you the opportunity to return an overpriced item for a full refund, then purchase it elsewhere at a lower price.
What's the Foot Locker price match policy?
There's no price match policy at Foot Locker, nor do they price match between store locations. However, price adjustments are available up to 10 days after purchase, so you're sure to get the lowest price on Foot Locker products.
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